Infinity: Rising of the Soul Weavers

'Kay? Kayla? Hayoo~ are you listening?' Raven seemed confused at Kayla's sudden silence.

'What the hell was that?!' Kayla clenched her teeth, not realising that Raven was calling for her. 

She was left divested from her encounter with Avavia. She had so many questions and concerns but she didn't know what to do about them. Not being able to discuss the matter with Raven didn't help at all.

'Kay? Please say something, you're making me worry...' Raven's kind, yet hesitant, voice knocked Kayla out of her trance. 

'Eh? Raven!' Kayla called while looking at her with tearful eyes. She was now aware of her surroundings.

'Oh, what's wrong?' Raven smiled while hugging Kayla's fragile body. 'What is the matter? You were fine and well just a second ago.'

'Ah… I- I… bleh never mind,' Kayla said shaking her head. 'Do you trust me, Rave?' she asked, trying to hide how conflicted she really was.

'Of course! With my life, Kay,' Raven answered without hesitation as a smile brightened her face, making Kayla smile in a similar manner.

'Good, then let me help you, ok? I- *sigh* I'll share with you some information, but please don't ask me how or why I would know such things, ok?'

Raising her eyebrows in question, Raven didn't like the sound of that, yet she still nodded. 'Ok, if you're saying that, then probably best for me, hehe!'

'Thank you, Rave!' leaving her embrace and adopting a serious expression, Kayla shared the information she received from Avavia while keeping her source a secret. 

And of course, she didn't forget to emit the parts about her past or anything else that may concern Raven.

This didn't last more than a few moments in the real world. When they were done, Raven shifted her attention towards Keith and Abbadon. 

Naturally, no one missed the change in Raven's attitude. Her smile seemed to falter, revealing that she now looked hurt for some reason.

"Abbadon, please feel free to start with your tasks now. However, note the slight change in plans; 

'Maria is staying here to rest, Liz will stay to take care of her. Take everyone else."

Seeing her serious expression, Abbadon nodded and instantly started his tasks as ordered. 

Snapping his fingers, a teleportation portal opened up in the large training hall. One by one, Keith, Calcer, and Zeru hopped in it without hesitation, knowing that they had some serious job to get done. 

Axane gave a stern nod towards Aella before following suit. Of course, they all wanted to stay with Raven, but they knew that they needed to have faith in her.

"Raven…" Aella called out as she handed Maria over to Liz. "Are you sure you want me to go too? I can stay if you want-"

"No, it's alright," Raven shook her head with a weak smile. "Kayla said she's capable of guiding me through the mana refinement process by herself. There is no need to hold the rest of you back.

"Plus we need to clear out the portals as soon as possible since any strong entity is enough to damage Gaia, err- the planet, right now. 

"We have to make sure everything is ready for the upcoming war. The portals will release some energy that will strengthen the planet and ensure Gaia and everyone else's safety."

"Ah… I see," Aella was disappointed and almost hurt that Raven didn't get her point. She wasn't concerned about the mana refinement process as much as she was worried about Raven herself.

She knew how much pressure she was under. 'You are such a dense kid… *sigh* but don't worry, I'll get strong enough to protect you without you needing to worry about anything.' 

"Uhm, stay well, Rave-" with a smile, Aella vanished into the magic portal.

Bowing his head slightly, Abbadon quickly followed behind her. Moments later, the portal disappeared, leaving the large training hall dead quiet.

Liz who was now struggling to carry Maria between her arms saw Raven's distant expression and couldn't help but frown in concern. "Are you alright, Rave?"

"Huh? Err, sorry, I was just deep in thought, hehe," she tried to laugh it off. "Yes, I am perfectly fine!"

*Sigh*

"You don't have to lie to me. I can tell easily whenever you're lying, you know," Liz said while slowly walking away. "But anyway, I'll be in the sleeping quarters with Maria if you need me. Please, don't hesitate to let me know whenever you do, ok?"

"Uhm," Raven nodded with a smile, trying to hide her shock at Liz's serious expression. She had never seen her like that before. "Thank you, Liz!"

"Uhm, no worries," the latter said before disappearing behind the larger set of doors leading out of the training hall.

'Liz knows whenever I lie?' Raven asked herself in concern. The girl always looked so pure and almost naive that it seemed impossible. 'Have I become such an open book that everyone could easily read? Or was she always this sharp without me realising?'

Raven was naturally keeping her thoughts to herself. Otherwise, Kayla would have scolded her into having some more trust in her friends. They all deeply care for her after all. 

However, another matter was clouding Raven's mind.

'So, it is as I've suspected…' She thought to herself. 'I understand why Kay hid her source of information, but that doesn't mean I don't know who told her everything…

'I remember stuff too, you know…

'So, that old trial I went through a long time ago wasn't just randomly made… Also, my dreams were not just random nightmares after all, huh? I still remember them all so vividly...

'They all have the same settings and events; I wake up to blood splattering across my face. 

'Suddenly, my seemingly normal field of vision starts getting higher and bigger, as if I am levitating, until I'm looking up from above and down at a single ball that rests between my glowing white hands. 

'Out of nowhere, a blinding light shoots down, turning everything into fine dust, and nothingness soon after.

'At that point, I can hear nothing but my own cries and screams as everything turns black…'

*Sigh*

Raven sighed, feeling a heavy weight resting on her fragile shoulders. 

'I am not stupid... and by connecting the dots to what Gaia and Abbadon had mentioned before… it all becomes rather clear… or does it?' She was unsure, hesitant, and almost afraid.

'Maybe I am just overthinking it… maybe it is just a dream and I'm connecting random dots… but, what do I make out of Kayla's words?'

*Sigh* 

'I guess I really don't know anything for sure… Why doesn't 'she' come out to tell me everything already? How long do I have to wait for?'